Are you aware that translation sites do not always translate accurately?

Question

For all the people who suggested translation sites: They can be very helpful, but they often mistranslate. That's because words often have several meanings. For example, someone who translated for me used the word "lata" for can, as in "change the things I can". But "lata" is the word for a can, like a tin can. Don't trust the translation sites too much if it really needs to be correct.

Answer 1

"Do not always"? If the text consist of mote than two sentences, I think you need to change it to "almost never". And.. leave the "do not always" for individual words... without any context.
Add to that all spelling errors people here have! How many aren't able to tll apart "your" and "you're", or "they're", "their" and "there", for example?
Fortunately, those using online translators only use them to get two silly points and not to comunicate with foreing investors.
Why do people trust in those translators? I don't really know. Maybe they don't even know their own language and are not able to see the nonsenses it generated when translating into their language.

Answer 2

Depending on the program you have to consider that computers don't always consider context nor idiomatic language. Just like the expression "He kicked the bucket" any translation site would translate that literally rather than figuratively. In other languages they have other expressions for "he died." It will be great if one day they get a translation program that can be based less on just a dictionary but maybe a dictionary, a thesaurus, a grammar manual, and an idiomatic phrase guide. That would be some program.

Answer 3

Most translation sites, at least the free ones, give a very general and vague meaning of a word, sentence or phrase. Of course, every language will have its cliche's that are completely unrecognisable in other languages but if you are looking for just a general, rough translation, free translations work great especially for people like me who have neither the education to tranlate it ourselves and can't afford translations by linguists.

Answer 4

That's very true. I use translation sites myself, but I usually back them up with a dictionary to check. It usually gets certain grammatical things that I miss. When translating to your native language, it's best to use a dictionary server or translation dictionary and you can get a good idea of what it's saying. Translating from your native language to something else a translation site can help, but you should always double-check the words themselves.

Answer 5

I am very aware. I will first use my own knowledge ( or knowledge of friends) of the lanugage. Second, a dictionary. Last resort is to use small sentances in a translator.

Answer 6

Yes, I am aware of that, but unfortunately there are always bozos answering questions here on Yahoo! Answers who use them to provide "translations" in response to questions they know nothing about. I really find it funny when they complain about how bad X to English translations are, then use them to answer questions about "How to you say this in X?" Somehow they think that the translaters are fine for English to X. LOL. Idiots.

Answer 7

thats because a simple word in spanish means 2 or 3 diferent things

Answer 8

Absolutely agree

Answer 9

they just don't care. If all a person wanted was a machine translation then they'd do it themself, they asked because they want a real answer!

Answer 10

yep. usually translation sites translate by words, not necessarily phrases or exceptional things. they arent always that accurate to use.